Messages

31

Lenses / Hold out for EF 35/2 IS or jump in with classic 35 1.4L

« on: November 05, 2012, 08:47:10 AM »

I've been lusting for the 35/1.4 since I gave away (to old friend w new baby - shooting w T2i) my 2nd 28/1.8 in July. Just as I was bout to pull the trigger - whammo - options options.

Many rumors of updates for the ol' 35 but that was not an issue for me as it is a great lens - Now!

In comparison, I shoot the 50/1,4 at 2.0+ most of the time. Opening up in really bad light.

In a bizzare state of excitement and confusion over this one. I'll hold off for a couple of days to cool down a bit and review in a sane state of mind.

It doesn't seem that the new 35/2 IS would be a replacement for the 1.4.... Am I wrong??

Thank you in advance for your thoughts.

32

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: EOS 6D Recording Video & Sound

« on: November 04, 2012, 09:13:19 PM »

On the post/edit side - look at PluralEyes (RedGiant has purchased them recently - bit support seems to be as good if not better). It will help you sync multicam & audio - quickly!

33

EOS Bodies - For Video / Re: Free and Inexpensive Video Editors

« on: November 04, 2012, 09:10:29 PM »

You can do the Adobe subscription type of thing with Premiere Pro - I think it's somewhere between 20-30$ / month.

34

Lenses / Re: Two Lenses to be Announced Shortly.....

« on: November 04, 2012, 09:07:05 PM »

If the 50 IS comes - it will be 2.0 or slower. We seem to be getting slower with IS on new glass.

35

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Coming [CR3]

« on: October 31, 2012, 12:15:25 PM »

All specs aside, I really think that this is a knee-jerk reaction to the market / sales.

With the Tamron getting to market first, many fans held out.  But as delays came on folk began to jump ship - especially when the price was verified by the vendors.

With the v1 24-70 gone, all of the sudden sales are down, even with a proported fatter margin on the v2.

We've all read the rumors that there was an IS version being tested - but this all went out the window once the v2 was Announced.

I disagree. It's not like they could design/test/set-up for manufacturing all since the 24-70 MkII came out. That's too little time for such a reaction. I'd be very surprised if they ever update the 24-105L after this new lens is on the market. With rationalisation of their zoom range, Canon's new blurb after December:

"Complementing the EF 17-40mm f4L USM and EF 70-200mm f4L USM, the 24-70 f4L IS STM lens completes Canon's f4L-series zoom lens range."

I didn't mean to imply that Canon shot this right out quick. It was obviously (if rumor translates to release) one of the variants being tested before the v2 lens was formally announced. Some mods to rework its positioning and wala!

36

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/4L IS Coming [CR3]

« on: October 31, 2012, 03:20:54 AM »

All specs aside, I really think that this is a knee-jerk reaction to the market / sales.

With the Tamron getting to market first, many fans held out.  But as delays came on folk began to jump ship - especially when the price was verified by the vendors.

With the v1 24-70 gone, all of the sudden sales are down, even with a proported fatter margin on the v2.

We've all read the rumors that there was an IS version being tested - but this all went out the window once the v2 was Announced.

Many consumers will prefer to stay away from off brand even at f4 vs f2.8.  I would expect simpler housing, pricing iine with Tamron VC 2.8 24-70.

Kit option - possibly.

Another marketing gimmick - "you don't need 2.8 anymore - just push your ISO - it will still look great - oh, you don't like the 3200 on 7D or rebel ? Well there are the new low noise high ISO bodies just for that. Buy the new body, save on the lens."

Ok - so I'm taking the conspiracy apple box stand.

We a bit jaded as far as lens prices go - and should try to step back and see this from a mass market POV. That is, after all, where this lens is targeted.

If and when there is something to consider - we will. Just take a look at the harsh 6D reactions from the announcement, and now people slowly peeping in "I'm considering it"

37

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L IS [CR1]

« on: October 29, 2012, 11:18:58 AM »

Unexpected pressure from Tamron?

38

Lenses / Re: Your technique for switching lenses in the field?

« on: October 26, 2012, 05:59:28 PM »

Body facing down on strap, remove lens (to table, bag etc), remove rear cap from incoming lens, apply lens, use rear cap from incoming to close the outgoing.  Then worry about the front (it its on) - been using the Shootsac, so all caps end up going into a back pocket, then I sort it out at the end of the shoot.

It gets more cumbersome when you want to slap on / remove a 1.4x / 2x in between the body and your 70-200 !

I usually have the rear caps all rotating between lenses, and the extenders have a different depth cap it seems - I've lost one and none of the lens rear caps seem to fit!

Step rings help with both filters and front caps (I really like the 3rd party Nikon-like caps) - not having figure "which one is in the pocket".  They do get in the way of hoods though - as most of my filters are 77mm.  This makes for a funky looking 40/2.8 (52mm thread) if I want a couple of 77mm NDs on it !

39

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Advice for night skyline photography

« on: October 26, 2012, 05:22:00 PM »

Sample from last night.  50% reduction to get it on this forum.

Its always fun when you see an image and say I've been almost exactly there....  although only with a 50 1.4, no tripod (holding camera against a rock) and kids screaming in the car... not ideal - but an image ... need to get back in the canyons next time I'm back.

If I recall - Mulholland between Laurel and Cahuenga ?

40

Lenses / Re: Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 Pancake

« on: October 26, 2012, 05:08:56 PM »

This is my playing in the park lens. Don't wanna look like a creep with a big lens in a park full of children!

Y'know, I tried that.  But on a 1D X, a smaller lens doesn't really help all that much. 

Looks kinda cute actually !!
http://www.canonrumors.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/1dxmine.jpeg

41

Lighting / Re: Phottix Odin: Inaccuate high-ISO metering problem

« on: October 26, 2012, 12:15:36 AM »

I've been proudly pimpin' my ancient 550EXs for quite some time now, and decided to step up from infrared to a set of Phottix Odins. With my 5D3 in Av mode, I've noticed that the flash exposure is pretty accurate and consistent up to ISO 400, but drop off a table after that. From ISO 800 and up, it seems like the Odin's don't "meter down" the flash exposure enough, and the result is way too much light output. Either that, or the Odins don't recognize that the ISO has been increased.

Here are some sample shots with the flashes set to the left and right of the subject. To keep the ambient light levels consistent, the aperture was kept at f/4, but the shutter speed varied from 1 second to 1/125 second.

Interestingly, the ETTL flash metering is much more accurate with the camera in manual mode. To make sure the ambient light in the room didn't affect the exposure, these shots were taken at f/8 and a 1/90 shutter speed.

Do the Odins just not like working in Av mode, or maybe it's just a compatibility issue with the 550EX's?

I've experienxed the same behavior w AV - but 90% of the time I'm in M on camera, so I can't say I've suffered.

Otherwise, the odins are great.  Esp wben adding non ttl units tk the mix. alot of control available here.

42

EOS Bodies / Re: 60D or t4i for video?

« on: October 24, 2012, 09:10:38 PM »

I'm quite the noob when it comes to this, so all help will be appreciated 

EDIT: I also want to keep in mind the quality in "low light" environments.

Canon recommends that a video camcorder is better.  HDDSLR video can be amazing, but the basic camera does not come video ready as a camcorder does, rather, its just a small piece of a system needed to produce movies for the big screen or television programs and commercials.
I'd figure spending at least 3-5X times the cost of the body to add all the other needed equipment that will make the video live up to its potential.  You will get better video with a good camcorder for less money at the low end.
One other reason for HDDSLR video is when you have only one camera and want to take a quick video on the spur of the moment.  It might not be pro quality, but having the capability to capture something is nice.

Not exactly sure what you're trying to imply, but I have my mind set on a 60D. I'm going to use it to make short films (like the one in my above post) for YouTube. At this point I just need to figure out my lenses (also mentioned in my above post).

Choose the one with better MagicLantern support.

43

EOS Bodies - For Stills / Re: Canon EOS 5D Mark III Firmware adds HDMI & AF Upgrades

« on: October 24, 2012, 09:04:39 PM »

It's great to get an HDMI output. But comparing it to an Alexa is going a bit too far...

Is it?  Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 - Part One: Starting With Darkness on Vimeo

I agree with you on the grading part, and definitely an iphone 4s requires much more effort
to deliver anything usable. But "revenge of the great Zacuto shootout" shows very well that
the camera is nothing without the talent driving it.

Sure, no piece of equipment is anything without the right talent. But for a big client of us for which he hire great shooters and DPs, we use a mix of Canon, 5D, 7D, C300, Sony F3, Red, Alexa, all in different teams, all at the same time in different locations, Ill keep the 5Ds for the B-Roll stuff, but will never take it for the talent delivering lines. Too much of a risk. That comes from Alexa or F3 recording out to a Samurai in 10 bits, which you end saying thanks after you get the stuff needing extreme grading for being totally overcast days...

One of the greatest benefits of a 5D2/3/dslr rig is its size on set.

Just went through a fast 3 day principal photography run with Alexa - and getting that thing inside a car with talent, driver, DP and director was a hurdle. For a couple of shots ended up using 5D, slamming it in the A-pillar and using a longer lens to shoot across to the back seat - gaining almost 4 feet from lens to talent. (Talent wasn't happy about how he looked with a widish fov). Only about 3 secs in the cut - depending on which version gets Approved on Saturday.

The look more or less matches, but I'm really concerned that we'll have to really work around the grading latitude limitations of those clips. This wasn't a planned situation, but neither was the fact that for a couple of takes the camera assistant ran the Alexa in 422-proxy mode either. Language issues get in the way sometimes.

Production is fun.
ML is great - for timelapse as well!!!
Improvements from canon will only make ML better.

Which brings me to another rant. Vertical market implementations will always be better for the end user - as the needs are matched. Canon strives to make a Swiss Army knife - a great one, but sometimes we need a drill.

Could / Would Canon purchase ML - as Apple, Google, Adobe and MSFT do to add to their operating systems / toolset ??

44

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: Samyang 24mm tilt and shift

« on: October 23, 2012, 09:31:51 AM »

As many, I've been waiting to see reviews. UKdigital is taking pre-orders at 1000 pounds.

Along the way, I found the following from ARSAT.  Read somewhere that this is a Ukrainian product.  Does anyone know anything about it?

http://www.amazon.com/Arsat-Photex-Shift-Canon-Camera/dp/B0052NTWL8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1350998788&sr=8-2&keywords=tilt+shift+lens+arsat

45

Third Party Manufacturers / Re: 6D Need To Change Something..

« on: October 23, 2012, 08:43:46 AM »

2.  D600 AF Spread.  It is definitely less than the 7D I sold to get it... and it _is_ inconvenient.  However!  The D600 AF is REALLY freaking good.  It is insanely fast (nearly instant with the 24-70G) and very accurate, even in low light.

I just saw DigitalRev overview of 5D3, D600 and D800 - shooting at a boxing ring, with marginal lighting... perhaps its part of a sales program, but the D600 didn't get the flying colors in terms in AF. 

Nikon D600 vs D800 vs Canon 5D Mark III - Head-to-Head	Small | Large

Are your findings different?